BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:00 P.M.) – The Islamic State terrorist group has launched a surprise assault on Kurdish-led forces in southern Hasakah Governorate inflicting uncomfortable losses on the US-backed alliance group in the process.

Yesterday ISIS conducted a large raid against fighters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to the east of the town of ash-Shaddadi catching them off guard.

In the resulting firefighting, ISIS claims to have killed thirteen Syrian Democratic Forces fighters before the raiding party withdrew the area back to its original positions along the Khabur River.

The attack comes at a time when Kurdish-led forces in the region are heavily preoccupied with an offensive in eastern Deir Ezzor, attacking towards areas that well over 100 kilometers away from ash-Shaddadi.

Yesterday the Syrian Democratic Forces commenced an assault to outflank ISIS positions along the western bank of the Khabur, advancing long the M-7 highway via the Deir Ezzor industrial zone towards the town of as-Suwar.

Improve the Discussion

Help us make this a great place for discussion by always working to improve the discussion in some way, however small. If you are not sure your post adds to the conversation, think over what you want to say and try again later.

The topics discussed here matter to us, and we want you to act as if they matter to you, too. Be respectful of the topics and the people discussing them, even if you disagree with some of what is being said.